Induction of secondary immune response by reactivated Japanese encephalitis virus in latently infected mice.

Development of secondary immune response has been studied following reactivation of latent Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection in mice. The virus could be reactivated in 43% of the latently infected mice at 27 weeks p.i. by treatment with cyclophosphamide. The reactivated virus induced delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) and leucocyte migration inhibition (LMI) responses in mice, with peak activity on Day 5 post-reactivation (p.r.). The DTH persisted at low levels for long periods. Humoral immunity measured by haemagglutination-inhibiting antibody showed a four-fold rise in antibody titres. DTH was transferable by immune spleen cells for 5 days p.r. only. It is, therefore, concluded that JEV reactivation generates a quick and short-lived secondary immune response.